Rap Noir: A Visual Album That Hits The Mark

As the pandemic continues, artists are forced to find unique ways to get their work to the masses. Musicians in particular are handcuffed by the sanctions against live performances and music festivals. Enter Rap Noir. Rap Noir was directed by Joslyn Rose Lyons via Zoom during COVID-19 lockdown. The short film features members of the Bay Area’s legendary Hieroglyphics crew. The Hieroglyphics are an underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del the Funky Homosapien. The group has sporadically released music, since 1998’s critically acclaimed 3rd Eye Vision. Rap Noir is a visual album featuring Tajai Massey, who takes on the leading role as well as executive producer. It is a gritty film shot in black and white. There are no breaks as each scene mirrors the content of each successive song. The subject matter is dark, expanding upon greed, adultery, lust, and other themes of temptation. It is a unique, daring piece of work that could stand alone as a film or album. Lucky for us, they merged into a visual album that hits the mark. Fans of the golden era of hip hop will be pleased with the result. Hopefully, other artists will be inspired to present their next projects unconventionally. The short film will premiere online at the Jelly Film Festival in Spring 2021.

Photography by Boson Wang and Christian Adkins

About Author

Mark Vodery

Mark Vodery was a Managing Editor of Occhi Magazine. A member of the National Association of Black Journalists, he studied Mass Communications at West Chester University. As an experienced session vocalist, he has toured the world and had several original works featured in film and television. Mark has been involved with several New York City projects including Feel the Music! and Make Music New York. An avid music lover, he takes pride in his extensive vinyl collection and spends his free time helping to facilitate service projects that benefit at-risk youth, through artistic philanthropy. Mark is based in New York and resides in New Jersey with his lovely wife and two daughters.

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